The Playlist: June 29, 2012

The 5 Tracks You Need To Know About This Week

Ursh enlists the lush production of Noah “40” Shebib, one of hip-hop’s hottest producers/sound engineers and the ears behind Drake’s hits, and the result is the closest to classic Usher we’ve heard in years.

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"Pyramids" by Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean’s nearly 10-minute “Pyramids” is two songs in one. The first is a sort of historical ode to Cleopatra, and the latter is a song about a stripper working at The Pyramids, possibly a reference to the pyramid-shaped Luxor in Las Vegas. If you don’t have 10 minutes to sit around and listen to Frank croon, just fast-forward to the sexier part (starting around 4:40).

MGMT joins in on the Fleetwood Mac cover action with a wonky, moody rendition of “Future Games,” from Fleetwood Mac’s 1971 album of the same name. Both of these songs appear on the forthcoming Fleetwood Mac cover album Just Tell Me That You Want Me, slated for August 14th.

“What Happened To U” by Usher (produced by Noah “40” Shebib)

Usher may have traded in sensual R&B ballads for Top 40 pop-techno in recent time, but he returns to his roots with “What Happened To U” from his recent No. 1 album, Looking 4 Myself. Ursh enlists the lush production of Noah “40” Shebib, one of hip-hop’s hottest producers/sound engineers and the ears behind Drake’s hits, and the result is the closest to classic Usher we’ve heard in years.

“Power Circle” by Maybach Music Group

The hard-hitting opener to Maybach Music Group’s Self Made Vol. 2 features Rick Ross and his MMG collective (Gunplay, Stalley, Wale, Meek Mill) along with Dr. Dre’s protege, Kendrick Lamar. Don’t like a bunch of guys rapping about fast cars and drugs? Just enjoy Australian model Jessica Gomes’ sexy “Mmmmaybach Music” ad-lib in the intro.